Are you ready?

By: Karolina Z.
Syracuse, NY

Craig and Karolina dated each other for 10 years before they got engaged on September 10, 2006 at the Mirror Lake Inn, and they’re only in their mid-20s! The high school sweethearts met a decade ago at Bishop Ludden High School in Syracuse when she was 16 and he was 17. Seven months ago, Craig and Karolina, now 27 and 26 respectively, decided to head to Lake Placid to celebrate their 10 year anniversary.

They had been to the Adirondacks many times before, but somehow they managed to get lost on the way to their celebration. Almost four hours from the time they started their travels, they excitedly arrived and immediately visited The Cottage for a fun-filled lunch on the deck. The sun was shining. The sky was blue. The air was crisp. And Craig and Karolina enjoyed each other’s company, laughing as if they had just met for the first time. After lunch, they decided to go on a canoe ride on the unrivaled Mirror Lake. They checked-in and neglecting their thoughts of putting on additional layers of clothing, they inquired about the canoes and were instructed to go down to the dock, where Tony would meet them. “Tony, the canoe man” (as we now call him) came to unlock the canoe and prepared them for their ride. Before they were off to enjoy a relaxing ride across the lake, they chatted with Tony for a few minutes, who gave the amateurs some pointers on how to maximize their canoe riding experience. Within the next hour and a half, the sun set and the cooler air uninvitingly greeted them. And so it was time for the hot tub!

Craig and Karolina went to their room to partner with their bathing suits, and as they entered their room for the first time, Craig noticed that there was something on the bed with a note that read “Happy Anniversary.” Karolina remembered that the last time they stayed at the Inn, Craig could not take his eyes off the Inn’s one-of-a-kind bath robes, and so she called ahead and requested that there be one awaiting Craig’s arrival. He was so excited to see and of course it is what covered him on his way down to the hot tub. As they walked down the hallway, Craig informed Karolina that they could only stay for the recommended 15 minutes, because they had dinner reservations in 45 minutes. And so, quickly it was time to go back up to the room and get ready for dinner.

Almost thirty minutes later, Karolina walked out of the bathroom, where she had applied her pink lip gloss, and she noticed that Craig was sitting out on the balcony. Craig invited Karolina out to see the stars, but she hesitated primarily because it was frigidly cold by that point of the day, but also because she very much dislikes being late. Craig promised her that it would only take a minute to appreciate the sky’s sparkle, and he succeeded in convincing her to join him. She sat down next to him, and he took her hand, looked at her and asked “isn’t it great out here?” She smiled. “I wanted everything to be perfect today! I didn’t want to get lost on the way here...”

Craig continued on about how beautiful the view, the evening and his date were until Karolina asked him if he was ready to go, "dinner reservations are in five minutes", she said. Craig replied "Yes, I'm ready to go" (pause) "I'm ready to go and spend the rest of my life with you" as he whirled himself down on one knee, catching Karolina by surprise as she was ready to head off the balcony to dinner. Time stood still for the next few minutes as Craig proposed to Karolina on that balcony overlooking the most beautiful lake in our world.

Being a couple minutes late for dinner didn't seem to bother Karolina as much as it normally would have. The tears in her eyes clued the wait staff that the newly engaged couple had arrived. Dinner at The View goes down as the greatest meal of their lives. On their way to meet the dessert that was sent up to their room, they somehow (once again) got lost. Luckily, they ran into “Tony, the canoe man,” who once again helped them find their way, but not before they shared the great news with him!

The next morning was canoe time as the fog rose off the lake into the chilly autumn morning's air. Craig and Karolina, riding on their high, stopped by the parlor on their out to get some tea to bring with them to fight the morning’s chill. A song playing in the parlor caught Craig's attention and he started singing to Karolina. "Anything you want, you got it! Anything you need, you got it! Anything at all you got it, baaaaabyyyyyy." The serenade was enough to warm Karolina’s heart, but she poured the tea anyways. Little did they know this song would become the first song Craig and Karolina plan to dance to at their May 2008 wedding! Minutes later, they went out to the middle of the lake, where they let the lake steer them in whichever direction it pleased. Afterwards, they walked around the lake and eventually made their way back to the Inn for treat at the Spa. As they entered the room, this time, they were both pleasantly surprised by a box of chocolates, two Saratoga Springs bubbly waters, and a personal note from Tony that congratulated them and wished them all the best.

When it was time to go, Karolina and Craig walked arm-in-arm out of the main entrance of the Mirror Lake Inn ready for the adventures of the day and the adventures of the rest of their lives.

With love,

Craig and Karolina

P.S. Craig and Karolina have many great pictures to share, but at the moment, none of them are electronic. If they had to pick three pictures to share, they would show you one of the two of them on the canoe, another of Craig in his robe on the balcony enjoying his Saratoga Springs water, and the last -- Karolina (wearing the Mirror Lake Inn sweatshirt she purchased in the Spa) and Craig standing underneath a banner that welcome them when they returned home. The banner said "Congratulations Karolina & Craig."